Irrigating valve wrench



E. T. FILLINGER IRRIGATING VALVE WRENCH Filed June so 1945 ERNEST T. FI-LLINGE'R 'lblVENTOR p uw.%-cw

ATT RNEY Patented May 14, 1946 PATENT; oral-ca 2,400,083

IRRIGATING VALVE WRENCH Ernest Tl 'Filliiiger, Lancasten. Calif. ApplicationiJune 30; 1945, Serial No. 602506 avenues. (01. 29-213) I This invention 1 pertains #to a:- wrench or keyi for a adjusting; removing andireplacin'gr the disc of awalve rotnithe'type useddn irrig'ation;.

The Iipurposea' of fthe invention; is :to provide a wrenchfby whiclr the disc: may beiloosene'd posi I tioned; removed iandreplaced :with the maximum of ispeed: and with the .leastlpossible' exertion :orrr.

the part of the operator."

The invention is described with reference to the ratta che did xiawing; which Fig. 1 illustrates the wrench in elevation and in operating position on an irrigating valve, the valve and pipe being shown in cross section;

Fig. 2 is a cross section through the stem of the wrench as on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the lower end of the wrench, as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows the hooks 23 of Fig. 1 in side elevation, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same as on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring first to Fig. 1, I is a section of a concrete pipeline through which irrigation water is conveyed under a relatively low pressure; II is a fragment of the stub, a T-branch integral with the pipeline; I2 is a spider fixed in a circular opening in the pipe by means of a metallic ring I3 which forms a valve seat; I4 is a valve disc mating the valve seat; I9 is a coarsely threaded screw having laterally projecting pins, as at I6, this screw revolving freely in the disc, as at H, and being threaded in the spider, as at [8. The screw is provided with collars I and by which the disc is lifted or pressed down on rotation of the screw. It will be understood that the above is no part of the invention and is shown merely to illustrate the manner in which the wrench of the invention is used.

Referring to the same figure, and describing now the elements which enter into the invention: a rod or tube 2I is bent to form a double hand crank as at 22-22. At its lower end the rod carries a pair of upwardly looking hooks 23-23, facing in opposite directions as shown in side elevation in Fig. 4 and in plan view in Fig. 5. These hooks engage the laterally projecting pins I6 for turning screw I9 and for lifting the valve out of the stub if desired.

The lower portion of the rod is rotatable in a collar 24 carrying three or more legs 25 which are retained against spreading by a ring. 26 of rod or pipe. This ring is preferably of such diameter as to fit somewhat closely inside stub II and thus to center the hooks and cause them ranged in Fig. 5).

to span the dipper-end of 'screw I 9 Th'ese legs 1 carry 'downwardlrprojected studs *2 I -2 I which engage th'e upper surface of= valve-disc I4 when the rod" and hooks are lifted as will-be described.

Above 'collar 2E is placedan open coil spring 28, the upper end of this spring en'gaging a- 'col lar '29 which is slidable on rod 2I.- A- le'ver-3li is pivota'bly': pinned ohthe rod? as at 3 I i a* pair of links 32 are-wonnecte'd to t end of the lever as at 33 and to the sliding-collar as at 34. It is convenient to combine these links in the form of a, light channel, as shown at 32 in Fig. 2. It is permissible to bend the lower corners of the channel to partially surround the rod and thus to eliminate collar 29 by allowing the end of the channel to bear directly on the upper end of the spring.

With the lever in the depressed position shown in Fig. 1 the spring is fully expanded and the rod is at its lowermost position as regards the assembly 24-25-26-21, a position which will permit the upper ends of hooks 23 to pass below pins I6 when the rod is rotated in the proper direction (counterclockwise as the hooks are ar- On raising lever 30 until crossbar encounters the rod, the rod is lifted, causing the hooks to engage the pins, and the spring is placed in compression. By this movement collar 20 is brought to bear on the lower side of disc I 4 and studs 21 are forced into contact with the upper face of the disc. The purpose of the spring is to compensate for differences in length of the upper end of the valve stem, and if the position of pins I6 as regards the upper face of the disc is constant, the spring may be omitted from the assembly by lengthening links 32 and allowing collar 29 to bear directly on collar 24.

With the lever in the raised position the cranks may now be rotated to withdraw screw I9 for a desired distance, allowing water to fiow beneath the edge of the disc and overflow the stub in the usual manner. If the maximum flow of Water is desired, the screw may be backed out completely and the disc, which is firmly gripped between collar 2|] and studs 21, lifted out of the stub together with the wrench. To replace the disc after removal the guide ring 26 is inserted in the stub, the wrench held in an upright position, centering the screw in boss l8, and the cranks rotated right hand to screw the disc into place. When seated, the lever is depressed, the cranks rotated left hand to cause the hooks to clear the pins, and the wrench lifted out of the stub. It will be noted that, for purposes of illustration, the tool is shown as much shorter than it is actually made.

The merit of this structure lie in the provision for centering the device in the stub, thus permitting the wrench to be placed over the valve stem, or the-screw and disc to be replaced after removal, without tedious feeling for the control position, and in firmly gripping the disc to permit it to be withdrawn and replaced with great readiness.

The double crank illustrated is convenient for rapidly rotating the rod but is not essential. If preferred, the upper end of the rod may be provided with a T-handle or a hand-wheel.

I claim as my invention:

1. An irrigating valve wrench, comprising: a guide ring horizontally disposed; a vertically arranged collar; leg rigidly coupling said collar to said ring; a stud projected downwardly from each said leg, said studs terminating in a common horizontal plane; a rod slidable and rotatable in said collar; a double hand crank formed at the upper end of said rod; a pair of oppositely facing and upwardly looking hooks attached to the lower end of said rod; a spring bearingon said rigidly supported collar and a slidable collar bearing on the upper end 01 said spring; a hand lever pivotally pinned to said rod and links connecting the free end of said lever with said slidable collar.

2. An irrigating valve wrench, comprising: a guide ring horizontally disposed and a vertically arranged collar centrally supported from said ring; a vertically arranged rod slidable and rotatable in said collar and means for manually rotating said rod; a pair of hooks attached to the lower end of said rod and arranged to engage pins projected from the stem of said irrigating valve; means for raising and lowering said rod within said collar; stop means arranged to limit the movement of said collar toward the disc of said irrigating valve, and a resilient, compressible element interposed between said raising and lowering means and said collar.

3. An irrigating valve wrench, comprising: a uide ring horizontally disposed and a vertically arranged collar centrally supported from said ring; a vertically arranged rod slidable and rotatable in .said collar and means for manually rotating said rod; a pair of hooks attached to the lower end of-said rod and arranged to engage pins projected from the stem of said irrigating; valve; means for raising and lowering said rod ERNEST T. FILLINGER. 

